The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-10-15
REV. FRENCH 3. EVANS DEAD.
A Sketch Of His Very Interesting and
Varied Career.

The following sketch OF the life OF
Rev. Strother Evans, as he was
known here, is taken from the Wash
ington Post Of Saturday, October s.
Deceased was brother Of Col. James
Evans of this place:
Rev. French S. Evans, one of the
oldest ministers in the Methodist
church, and for many years resi-
dent of Washington, died at 10
o'clock yesterday morning at his
residence, No. 9l3 r street North
west, at the age of eighty-six years.
He had been suffering from kidney
complaint for the past two years,
but the immediate cause of his death
was cold contracted on Wednesday
of last week.
French Strother Evans was born
in Morgantown, Monongalia county,
w. Va, August l6, 1901, and it was
in this then comparatively wild and
thinly-settled country that his boy
hood was passed. He attended the
Academy that preceded the founda-
ton of the State University at Nor
gantown and laid the foundation of
an education that was broadened
and deepened in after years by ex-
tensive reading and study. At the
age of nineteen he was licensed as
an exhorter in the Methodist church,
and in 1922 was ordained deacon,
and officiated as circuit rider in
Virginia and West Virginia, which
States were then included in the
Baltimore conference He became o
regular minister in 1926, and WIS
stationed in Baltimore until 1929,
when he came to Washington and
took charge of Foundry church.
Wesley Chapel was then a mission
of Foundry, and, IN course Of time,
Rev. Mr.. Evans went there, having
located in Washington and accepted
a position in the office of the Regis
ter of the Treasury The population
of the city was so small at that time
and the churches so poor that it was
common for ministers to take Gov
eminent positions and preach on
Sunday.
Mr.. Evans was the father of the
Washington Methodist churches.
He founded McKendrce church,
Waugh Chapel and Ryland. Nc
Kendree, with which he was most
intimately associated, was founded
near the close of May, 1914, when
the first service was held in the hall
of the Northern Liberty Fire Com
pany, which stood in what is now
Mt. Vernon Place The services
were subsequently held in the car
penter shop of John T. Wallace, near
by. Finally the present site Of the
church was purchased.
While Mr.. Evans filed his posi-
ton in the Registers Office, Louis
Cass, then Secretary Of War, and
who knew him very we'll, sent for
him to come to his Office. Mr.. Ev-
ans went, and Mr.. Cass told him
that he wanted him to take charge
Of adjusting pension claims under
the act of 1928. Mr.. Evans demur-
red on the ground that the position
might not be permanent, and finally
Secretary Cass gave him rather
remarkable commission specifying
that his appointment should endure
so long as the Secretary of War en-
dured. When the Pension Office
was separated from the War Depart
ment be became chief clerk Of the
Pension Office, from which place he
resigned in 1851 He then went into
business in Baltimore, and during
the war was appointed by President
Lincoln to be Naval officer at the
port of Baltimore. In 1877 he was
appointed to the same position in
the Dead Letter Office that he held
when he died.
He was a man Of magnificent ply
sivue and fine personal appearance.
AS public officer he was faithful
and industrious. The primary cause
of his complaint was an accident
that happened to him about two
years ago. He was coming home
from the Office one raw wintry day
when he fell down in Mt. Vernon
Place, injuring his head. He was
confined to his house and afterwards
suffered from kidney complaint. He
continued his work, however, and
was at the office for the last time
Wednesday of last week, when he
took the fatal cold.
Rev. Mr.. Evans leaves a widow
and two SONS and daughter and
six grandchildren. The funeral
services will be held at McKendree
church at o'clock Sunday after
noon, after which the remains will
lie in the church until Monday when
they will be taken 10 Baltimore, fot
interment in Greenmunt Cemetery